On Wednesday morning, we had the honor of virtually welcoming author Alice Faye Duncan to Burgundy during our All School Meeting. Alice is an award-winning writer, teacher, and school librarian, born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She grew up directly impacted by the experiences and lessons Martin Luther King Jr. had on her community and shared with us the inspirational role Dr. King played throughout her life. She learned firsthand from her family and friends of Dr. King’s service to create a beloved community founded on defeating the Three Major Evils: Racism, Poverty, and War. A man of love, peace, and justice, who built bridges to connect all people.

Alice spoke to us about the importance of winning freedom in every generation, details surrounding The Sanitation Strike of 1968, and her passion for writing MEMPHIS, MARTIN, AND THE MOUNTAINTOP-exploring the American Civil Rights Movement and the death of Dr. King. Just as Harriet Tubman, American abolitionist and political activist, inspired Dr. King’s civil rights movement, Alice posed the question to our students, “Who inspires you?”

MEMPHIS, MARTIN, AND THE MOUNTAINTOP received the Coretta Scott King Honor Medal in 2019 and is filled with poetry, music, and powerful illustrations by Caldecott Honor medalist Gregory Christie. Please listen to the recording of her book here in a video gifted by the Memphis Public Library.

Special thanks to our Middle School teacher, Levita Mondie, for making this exciting introduction to our community and to Elizabeth Lener and Barbara Krainik for their work in organizing it.

 

Seven Ways to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy with Children

  1. Talk With Children About Race Year-Round
  2. Talk About People Who Supported — and Opposed — King’s Work
  3. Learn About the Movements That Are Continuing King’s Legacy of Civil Rights Today
  4. Write a Family Letter to President-Elect Biden About Racism
  5. Create a Toy Protest or Chalk Your Sidewalk
  6. Support Black-Owned Businesses in Your Community
  7. Celebrate With the Music of the Civil Rights Movement

Read the details on the Seven Ways to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy with Children from Rebekah Gienapp by visiting https://www.pbssocal.org/education/at-home-learnin...

An additional resource includes: How to tell kids why we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day